So I have decided after a very long process of elimination to go with a Yaqui Mariola DL as my all around road/tri bike (I can only afford the one, and barely this one…). Ves sized me up, and thanks to my genes, I don’t really fit a standard bike. Going to spring for the custom frame at an additional cost of $200.
Now, in my initial plans, I was thinking of going carbon for the stays, but with the extra $200 for the custom geometry, it is getting a little tougher for me to convince myself this is the way to go. I know at least yaquicarbo probably has an opinion on this, anyone else with a Mariola or DL care to chime in on stiffness and comfort? Is the bike with the carbon really $400 better than the standard aluminum? Is it really a $2000 frame?
My guess is that if you go with the Al frame you’ll only be concerned about the carbon stays until you take delivery of the bike. I dealt with the same thing a few weeks back and opted to go with the aluminum stays. Granted I only picked up my new bike a few days ago but I’m happy. The Al stays are really quite beefy.
If you haven’t done so, read Dan’s review (Product Review, Tri-bikes) of the Carbo. He talks about the differences between it and his Mariola. Might help you decide.
John, I think it depends upon your weight and power output. The heavier you are, and/or the more power you produce, the more important the carbon stays could be. They are stiffer than the aluminum ones. These stays are thicker than the other carbon stays I see on other bikes…I mean they are STIFF! I weigh in the 180’s and can bend a bike noticeably under power, so I got the carbon stays for efficiency sake. I don’t know if they help ride quality, but, it is a plenty comfortable ride set up like this.
So by not getting the carbon I will look like a wuss who can’t produce power? Can’t have that!
Seriously, though, I will ask Ves for his opinion. I am 180 pounds and can move the BB a bit when I climb, but I don’t think it is really impacting me that much. Not sure if it is enough to justify the $400 - that’s almost half a set of Zipp 404’s.
A bit of advice. Measure the rear dropouts when your receive your frame/bike (whichever one you choose) to make sure they weren’t bent in during shipping. Ves can give you the correct distance (131mm I believe). I made the mistake of assuming I just had a tight rear triangle.
Not that this really matters, John, but if you get the carbon, you don’t have to worry about it being bent in shipping! Actually, I believe my front and rear dropouts were “plugged with a spacer” to keep that from happening.
Got my CAD drawing today - very cool to see “my” bike before it is even assembled. I am going to pass on the carbon stays, but I am having water bottle bosses installed on the down tube as well as the seat tube - one doesn’t seem like it would be enough for a long race.
Maybe I can paint the seat tubes black, so I won’t look like such a wuss…
